Adam Allgood
pianodrums@aol.com
I have noticed that other authors post disclaimers before their
stories. Here's one.
Sailor Moon, and all related characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi and
Kodansha, Bandai, Dic, etc. Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, and all
of it's related characters belong to Paramount Pictures. Any other
characters were created by me.
Star Trek:
Sailor Moon
Mutual Dilemma
The Anomaly
Chapter 1
Serena was the epitome of bliss. She leaned back and closed her
eyes. Gradually, she left the indefatigable pressures of her life and
entered a state of total relaxation. Incongruous images flashed through
her mind, but they all eventually came to rest upon one topic. Swimming
through a cool, refreshing sea of blue, she raised her arms and took
flight, uncaring about the logical impossibilities of unaided flight.
Soaring like a bird, Serena felt a warm, tender hand grasp her wrist.
Blushing slightly, she melted into the embrace of her love, the powerful
Tuxedo Mask.
"I will always love you, Serena." he said, "Always."
"And I you." They glided together under a canopy of shimmering
stars. The moon, the eternal symbol of Serena's legacy, was the most
notable object in the sky. Its light warmly illuminated the two embracing
lovers that shared the sky with it. Everything was right in the world. No
enemies, no stress.
"I will never allow anything to harm you, my love." Tuxedo Mask
said. "I am always on your side, no matter who captures me, no matter what
anyone does to me. Remember that."
Serena was filled with an immense pleasure at the sincerity and
devotion in those words. But why would he need to protect me if there is
no danger? she thought.
As if in response to her unspoken thought, the tranquillity of the
night was shattered by a deafening crack. A horrible beast appeared before
the startled couple, bearing a huge whip that caused the dreadful sound.
It struck out into the night air again. A hideous voice, shrill and
ominous arose from the creature.
"Serena!" it called.
"Go away!" cried Serena.
Tuxedo Mask, always the hero, jumped in front of Serena. "You
heard her!" he growled. "Leave us!" He lunged forward towards the beast,
but instead of impacting, he continued forward, as if the creature was far,
far away. He grew smaller and smaller in Serena's field of vision, until
he disappeared completely.
"Darien! No!" she screamed. The serene, peaceful scene that once
held the lovers began to fade away into a black, black night. This
provided more focus on the beast. "What do you want?!" she cried out.
"Wake up!" cried the voice.
"Huh, what? What do you mean? Where am I?"
"Serreeenah!" growled the voice between clenched teeth.
Serena slowly opened her eyes and groggily looked around. Her
first glance revealed a furious teacher's face. The teacher slammed a
yardstick down onto the desk for a third time. "Oh my gosh, Ms. Haruna!"
squealed Serena, suddenly sweating. "I'm sorry, I was just lost in
thought. The answer is two!"
"What?!" shouted Ms. Haruna. "This is geography class! You have
just bought yourself a detention young lady!"
"Oh no! Not again!" Serena's eyes began to fill with tears. "My
mother is going to kill me!"
Meanwhile, across the boundaries of universes, into a totally
different world, (but still Earth) a battered spaceship blinked into
existence from not a different place, but a different time. From its
appearance, its hull and crew had been in a terrible struggle. An
examination of the hull revealed a message proudly proclaiming: Enterprise:
NCC-1701-E.
Captain's Log: Stardate 49103.2. At least, I think that is the
date. You see, the Enterprise has just returned from the past. We managed
to defeat the Borg again, and correct the timeline. However, ours is a
phyrric victory because over half of my crew is either dead or passive.
Our scans are now revealing the aftermath of our battle with the Borg cube,
which to me seems like days ago. But how long ago did it really occur?
"Data, status report. Please estimate the time."
"Captain, due to the fact that London now appears to be facing the
sun, I would conjecture that twelve minutes have passed since this battle.
Sensors indicate twelve non-functional Star Fleet vessels, and sixteen
operational. It is unknown at this time the condition of these sixteen
vessels but..."
Data was interrupted by his console. He continued speaking after
checking the instrument. "Captain, I have bad news, sensors indicate a
Borg cube on the other side of this planet." Data's voice registered fear.
Apparently his emotion chip was functional.
"How could this be?" asked Picard. "We destroyed the collective
consciousness that governs that ship"
"Time travel is quite enigmatic, captain." Data replied.
"Worf, hail the functioning Fleet ships and tell them to proceed
immediately to the far side of Earth."
"Aye sir." Worf transmitted his message with an unusual flair.
Klingons always seemed to be in a good mood before a fight. On the viewer
about fourteen starships changed course. The other two, no dought, were
too damaged to fight. The planet seemed to turn beneath them as the
Enterprise and her comrades made their way towards their nemesis. The Borg
cube was an impressive sight. The approaching starships seemed like
insects in comparison. Even the Sovereign Class Enterprise was dwarfed.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice broke the radio silence.
"We are the Borg" it announced "We have engaged your fleet in
battle and defeated them. Your continued resistance is futile. We will
add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your
culture will adapt to service us. If you attempt to intervene, we will
destroy you." The transmission ended abruptly. The ominous cube hung
there, daring any of the insects to sting. They did. Several quantum
torpedoes were launched, impacting the cube. Debris was knocked away.
"I love these new weapons!" shouted a voice on board another ship.
Suddenly, a blue beam lanced out from the cube and snared the offending
ship. A green beam of light sliced the saucer in half.
"My God." exclaimed Picard, "We must keep them from assimilating
Earth!"
***
"Where have you been, young lady?" shouted a middle-aged woman;
Serena's mother. "You are two hours late!"
"I can explain mom," began Serena timidly, "I was in school, and
I..."
"You got another detention, didn't you?" shrieked her mother, who
was already in a bad mood about something else. "What did I tell you last
time?"
"Uh..."
"You promised me that you wouldn't get another detention, Serena!"
interrupted the angry woman. "I'm disappointed in you. You are now
grounded. Go to your room!"
Serena began to cry and ran off. Her mother just sat there, dazed.
The extreme hostility that she dished out surprised even her. She also
realized that she didn't even let Serena explain her story. Ms. Haruna had
called on the phone. Perhaps I was a little too harsh. She thought After
all, I was young once too, and experienced the same problems, and got into
the same trouble. She walked into the kitchen to prepare supper. I'll
discuss it with her later.
Serena sat on her bed sadly. "Nobody understands me." she said
quietly. "Why does everyone rush me, and force me to work, and treat me so
badly?" She continued in thought. Math is so hard for me, and it tires me
out so quickly. I wish I could understand it, but everyone is too
impatient to help me! She was glad that Luna wasn't there. Serena didn't
want her to see her tears.
An explosion blasted silently in the vacuum of space. The Borg
cutting beam lanced out and gutted the engines of a starship. Escape pods
were everywhere.
"The Heron has been destroyed and the Yorktown has lost main
power!" Shouted Worf over the red alert klaxons. "The Borg are sustaining
damage to the starboard side of the cube! They are not adapting fast
enough to our new phaser frequencies and quantum warheads."
"Move to position Beta and fire at will!" Commanded Picard.
William Riker awarded a grim smile to Picard's order. A joke throughout
the ship during happier times involved the captain saying "Fire at Will" ,
and having people draw phasers at Riker. However, there was no time for
comic relief. The sleek Enterprise raced towards the colossal cube and
released hell with phasers and torpedoes. Pieces of the Borg cube were
blasted into space. The cube looked like it was shedding an outer skin.
The Heron rammed the cube, and their ultimate sacrifice bought the
Fedaration more time to live, and fight. However, all was not lost,
because several shuttlepods with the registry: NCC-74669 were observed in
retreat. Suddenly, the lion bit down on the Enterprise.
"They have locked on to us with their tractor beam! Shields have
failed!" called Worf from OPS. The cutting beam drove into the hull,
leaving visible scarring. Oxygen leaked out into space. Bridge stations
exploded as a fuel conduit ruptured on the bridge. Smoke filled the air,
causing the officers to choke. Where were the filters?
"Damage report!" said Picard.
"Deck twelve has been depressurized! We have causalities!" came
the reply.
"Seal the leak! Repressurize that deck!" cried Picard
"We're trying!"
The Borg released the helpless Enterprise and continued toward the
Earth's atmosphere. Suddenly, subspace shockwaves resonated across space
as a giant, bright ellipse appeared before the Borg cube. Its radiance was
overwhelming.
"Are they attempting to repeat the time travel?" asked Picard,
urgently.
"Negative." said Data. "The ellipse does not match the
configuration of the anomaly created by the former cube. This one appears
to be in the upper ionosphere of Earth. The Borg are being drawn into it."
"Open a channel!" said Picard.
"Channel open"
"All ships cease fire!" shouted Picard "There's no telling what
weapons fire will do to the anomaly! Stop before its too......."
It was too late. Five quantum torpedoes, Star Fleet's most
powerful bombs, raced towards the Borg. The Enterprise crew didn't have
time to react before they were enveloped in a blinding white light.
Serena walked out onto her balcony, sadly gazing into the night.
At least Luna didn't berate me too, she thought. The cat did have some
sense not to be cruel. Serena felt warm feelings to her guardian. Behind
her rough tough exterior was a compassion and unconditional love. Serena
looked at the feline, as she slept peacefully on the bed. Sweet dreams,
Luna. At least your dreams don't cause you trouble.
Suddenly a bright white ellipse shaped object appeared in the sky,
turning night into day. Serena screamed and ran back into her room. Luna
woke up, scanned the sky, and arched her back. "Serena, get your
communicator," she said. "This is trouble!"